Oil well cleaning tool



June 20, 1967 w. J. NElLsoN OIL WELL CLEANING TOOL Filed Dec. 18, 1964 /l l //arn e] 3 4 ILV Qa 7 M M zzmyw M United States Patent O 3,326,294 OIL WELL CLEANING TOOL William J. Neilson, Whittier, Calif., assignor to Tru-X Tool Co., Paramount, Calif., a partnership Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,359 Claims. (Cl. 166-173) This invention relates generally to oil well tools and relates more particularly to a tool for cleaning out oil well pipes, casing, and the like.

While the invention has particular utility embodied in a tool for .cleaning casings, pipe and the like of oil wells, and is shown and `described thus embodied, it is to be understood that its utility is not confined thereto.

The problem of providing a suitable tool for cleaning out the casings, pipes and the like of oil wells involves certain well known difficulties. For example, there may be situations in which it is desirable to rotate a cleaning tool while in other situations it is advantageous to use the tool on a wire line without rotating it. Some cleaning tools are of the rotatable type While others are of the reciprocable type for use on a Wire line.

It is an object of the .present invention to provide a cleaning tool that is highly effective in the cleaning operation when used on a wire line or the like and run up and down, as well as when rotated.

Another object of the invention is to lprovide a tool of this -character that is effective to clean out the cement sheath and also to remove burrs left after the casing has been gun-perforated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character that has a plurality of cutters so arranged as to give full circumferential coverage. That is the combined effective lcleaning portions of the cutters cover a full 360 'so that the full circumference of the interior of the casing is subjected to the cleaning action of the tool with each pass, for the largest I.D. of casing or pipe for which a particular size of tool is intended.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character wherein a particular size tool may be used effectively for casing of several sizes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character having pockets for operable reception of the cutters.

It is another object of the invention to provide a tool of this character having novel means for retaining the cutters in the pockets so that the cutters cannot be lost.

It is still another object of the inventio-n to provide a tool of this character that is simple in construction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tool of this character that is effective in operation.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a tool of this character that is rugged and reliable.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficiently referred to in connection with the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, which represent one embodiment. After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that variations may be made wi-thout departing from the principles disclosed and I -contemplate the use of any structures, arrangements or lmodes of operation that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, which fare for illustrative purposes only:

FIG, 1 isa side view of a tool embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

Patented June 20, 1967 ICC Referring more particularly to the drawings, the oil tool embodying the present invention comprises an elongated body indicated generally at 10, There are a plurality of bosses 12, 14 and 16, respectively, on the body, said lbosses being spaced apart longitudinally. The bosses are all of the same construction and characteristics, so that a `description of one will sufice, the boss 12 'being taken for this purpose.

The boss is of greater cross-sectional area than the body of the tool and is cylindrical except for relieved portions which extend longitudinally of the boss and provide at, longitudinally extending chordal surfaces 18. There are three such surfaces 18, the longitudinal center lines of which are spaced arcuately apart Between the surfaces 18 are portions 20 that extend longitudinally and have arcuate outer surfaces 22.

Centrally of the arcuate or peripheral ends of the portions 20 longitudinally extending outwardly opening grooves 24 are provided which grooves are termed cutter pockets. These pockets are equally spaced annularly apart and the longitudinal centers thereof are arcuately spaced 120 apart.

Within each pocket is operably disposed a cutter, indicated generally at 26, the cutters 26 are all of the same construction so that a description of one will suffice. Each cutter comprises an elongated body 28 of a width to be received within its pocket so that the body extends lengthvvise within said pocket and is movable radially therein. The width of the body is sufficiently smaller than the width of the pocket so that said body will freely slide in the pocket but will have no lateral play. The cutter has a plurality of longitudinally spaced teeth 30 on the outer surface, said teeth having arcuate outer edges 32. The teeth are also inclined from one end to the other.

Cutters 26 are of less length than the pockets and each cutter has oppositely arranged lugs 36 extending outwardly longitudinally of the ends thereof. The thickness of the lugs is less than the thickness of the body of the cutter and the upper surfaces of said lugs provide shoulders 38.

The cutters are retained in the pockets by cutter retainers 40 disposed in the pockets at the ends thereof. Each cutter retainer has a flange 42 extending toward the adjacent end of the cutter and spaced from the bottom of the cutter pocket a distance greater than the thickness of the lugs 36. Flanges 42 overhang the respective lugs 36 and provide means limiting movement of the cutter radially outwardly.

Cutter retainers are secured in position by means of pins 46. These pins may be of any suitable character but, as shown, are resilient roll pins of well known character, there being suc-h pins presently on the market. Pins 46 are disposed in openings 48 provided therefor in the cutter retainers and in Openings 50 in the adjacent portions of the boss at opposite sides of the cutter pocket and aligned with the openings 48 in the cutter retainers. Openings 50 have their outer ends terminating at the surfaces 1-8 and adjacent openings therefor are spaced apart.

The undersides of the flanges 42 are spaced from the bottom wall of the cutter pockets a greater distance than the thickness of the lugs 36 so that the cutters have limited radial movement in the pockets. The undersides of the cutter bodies have a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses 52 for reception of coil springs 54 which react between the bottom wall of the cutter pocket and the closed ends of said recesses to yieldingly urge the cutters outwardly.

The total circumferential extent of the teeth of the cutters of each boss is a third of the total I.D. circumference of the maximum size pipe for a given tool. The cutters are fully extended for operating on such a pipe or casing and t-he cutters of the three bosses are so arranged that each set of cutters will operate on a third of the I.D. circumference of the pipe or casing and the cutters of each boss are so oriented with respect to the other cutters as to be oriented 40 relative to the other cutter so that the full 360 of the interior circumference of the pipe or casing will be acted upon when the tool is reciprocated within such pipe or casing.

It is to be noted that the outer sides of the end teeth of the cutters, with respect to the length of t-he cutters, are bevelled, as at 58 and 60, said teeth being bevelled from their roots outwardly and toward each other. All of the free edges of the teeth are adapted to cutter-scrape the interior of the pipe or casing, or the like, in which the tool is operated.

The tool has longitudinally extending end portions 64 and 66. There is the usual socket or box, not sh-own, in the upper end of the portion `64 for reception of the usual pin of a sub 68 or the like connected to the lower end of a wire line 70 whereby the tool may beraised and lowered for cleaning and scraping t-he inside of a pipe or casing, such as indicated at 72. The lower end of the portion 66 is provided with the usual tapered pin, not shown, for reception in a socket, not shown, in the upper end of a ipe 74.

The tool may also be used to scrape and clean pipes or casings having a smaller inside diameter than the one referred to above. In such cases the cutters will be forced inwardly in their pockets against the action of the springs 54, said springs maintaining the cutters against the surface of the inside of the pipe or casing as the tool is reciprocated upwardly and downwardly by means of the wire line.

It is to be understood, of course, that while three cutters are shown for each boss, the number of such cutters may vary. However, the number of bosses wit-h cutters may also vary, the principal objective however being to get a full 360 cleaning coverage.

The invention and its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof or sacricing its material advantages, the arrangements hereinbefore described being merely by way of example,

and I do not wish to tbe restricted tothe specific form shown or uses mentioned except as defined in the accompanying claims, wherein various portions have been separated for clarity of reading and not for emphasis.

I claim: v

1. A cleaning and scraping tool for cleaning the inside of pipes 4and the like, comprising:

(A) an elongated body, three bosses on the body in longitudinally spaced relationship to each other, each boss having three annularly spaced elongated rectangulary pockets therein open at the exterior side, the pockets of successive bosses being oriented at 40 with respect to the pockets of the preceding boss, said bosses having attened sides extending longitudinally between the pockets thereby providing increased sectional areas for iiuid for ushing away cuttings and the like;

(B) an elongated cutter in each pocket;

(C) each cutter having a plurality of scrapper teeth transversally relative to the length of the cutters, and spaced apart longitudinally relative to the `length of the cutter thereon, the end teeth having oppositely arranged bevelled sides converging outwardly fro-m the longitudinal axis of the body, the top surfaces ot the teeth being arcuately shaped to conform to the curvature of the pipe to be cleaned;

(D) lugs at the ends of the cutter, said lugs extending longitudinally outwardly and being positioned at the bottom part of the cutter;

(E) cutter retainers at the respective ends of the pockets and extending to the bottom of the pockets,

said cutter retainers having flanges adjacent the tops thereof, said flanges extending over t-he respective adjacent lugs of the cutter and being spaced from the bottom of the respective pockets a distance greater than the thickness of the lugs to thereby permit inwardly and outwardly movement of the cutters in their respective pockets, said cutter retainers providing means for guiding the cutters in their inward and outward movements;

(F) said cutter retainers and adjacent portions of the bosses thereof having aligned bores;

(G) rolled spring pins disposed in said bores for retaining the cutter retainers in position;

(H) said cutters having a plurality of recesses in the underside thereof, said recesses being longitudinally spaced apart;

(I) and springs in said recesses for urging the cutters radially outwardly, the cutters of each boss being of a width to operate on a third of the interior circumterence of a pipe to be cleaned and each boss being so oriented that t-he cutters of three bosses will cover a full 360 of the inside surface of a pipe to be scraped and cleaned.

2. A cleaning tool for cleaning the inside of pipes and the like, comprising:

(A) an elongated body, three bosses on the body in longitudinally spaced relationship to eac-h other, each boss having three elongated rectangular pockets therein open at the exterior side, the pockets of successive :bosses being oriented at 40 with respect to the pockets of the preceding boss, said. bosses having attened sides extending longitudinal between the pockets;

(B) an elongated cutter in each pocket;

(C) each cutter having a plurality of scrapper teeth extending transversely relative to the length of the cutters, the end teeth having beveled sides converging outwardly from the longitudinal axis of lche body; the top surfaces of the teeth being arcuately shaped to conform to the curvature of the pipe to be cleaned;

(D) lugs at the ends of the cutter, said lugs extending longitudinally outwardly;

(E) cutter retainers at the respective ends vof the pockets, said cutter retainers having flanges adjacent the tops thereof, said flanges extending over the respective adjacent lugs of the cutter and being spaced from the bottom of the respective pockets to permit inward and outward movements of the cutters in their respective pockets;

(F) means for retaining the cutter retainers in position;

(G) said cutters having a plurality of recesses in the underside thereof, said recesses being longitudinally spaced apart;

(H) and springs in said recesses for urging the cutters radially outwardly, the cutters of each boss being of a width to operate on a third of the interior circumference of a pipe to be cleaned and each boss being so oriented that the cutters of the three bosses will cover a full 360 of the inside surface of a pipe to be cleaned.

3. In a cleaning tool for cleaning the inside of pipes and the like, comprising:

(A) an elongated body, three bosses on the body in longitudinally spaced relationship to each other,eeach boss having three elongated rectangular pockets therein open at the exterior side, the pockets of successive bosses being oriented at 40 with respect tothe pockets of the preceding boss, said bosses having ilattened sides extending longitudinally between the pockets; (B) an elongated cutter in each pocket; (C) each cutter having a plurality of outwardly extending teeth spaced longitudinally apart thereon; (D) lugs at the ends of the cutter;

(E) cutter retainers at the respective ends of the pockets,v

said cutter retainers having parts engageable with respective adjacent lugs of the cutter for retaining said cutters in the respective pockets but permitting radial movement of the cutters in their respective spaced apart relative to the length of the pockets, the sets being annularly oriented with respect to the pockets of the proceeding sets, said body having attened sides extending longitudinally between the pockets; 5 pockets t-o increase the cross sectional area for luid (F) and resilient means for urging the cutters radially llow for ushing away cuttings and the like;

outwardly, the cutters of each boss being of a width (B) an elongated cutter in each pocket; to operate on a third of the interior circumference (C) each cutter having a plurality of outwardly exof a pipe to be cleaned and each boss being so oriented tending teeth spaced longitudinally apart thereof; that the cutters of the three bosses will cover a full 10 (D) lugs at the end of the cutter; 360 of the inside surface of a pipe to be cleaned. (E) cutter retainer at respective ends of the pockets, 4. In a cleaning tool: said cutter retainers having parts engageable with (A) an elongated body; the respective adjacent lugs of the respective cutters (B) a plurality of bosses on said body, each boss havfor retaining said cutters in the respective pockets ingaplurality of outwardly opening elongated pockets but permitting radial movement of the cutters in spaced apart annularly equal distances, said body their respective pockets; having flattened sides extending longitudinally be- (F) and resilient means for urging the cutters radially tween the pockets; outwardly, the cutters of each set being of a width (C) an elongated cutter in each pocket adapted t0 move to operate on a portion of the interior circumference inwardly and outwardly relative to its pocket; of a pipe to be cleaned and each set being so oriented (D) a plurality of longitudinally spaced teeth on the that a full 360 of the inside surface of a pipe to be outer side of the cutters; cleaned will kbe covered. (E) yielding means urging said cutters outwardly in the respective pockets; References Cited (F) and means limiting outward movement of said UNITED STATES PATENTS cutters, the cutters of one boss having a dlferent `orientation relative to the cutters 0f another boss 216671931 2/1954 Baker 16`6""173 so that when the tool is reciprocated in a pipe the 2,693,239 11/1954 Emanuel 166-173 cutters of one boss will have a dierent path from 217131913 7/1955 Ragan 166-173 the cutters of Said other boss. 2,836,251 5/1958 Claypool et al. 166-173 3,032,114 5/1962 Best 166-173 5. In a cleaning tool for cleaning the inside of pipes and the like, comprising:

(A) elongated body means having a plurality of sets CHARLES E' OCONNELL Primary Examiner' DAVID H. BROWN, Examiner.

of elongated rectangle pockets therein open at the exterior side, the sets of pockets being longitudinally 

4. IN A CLEANING TOOL: (A) AN ELONGATED BODY; (B) A PLURALITY OF BOSSES ON SAID BODY, EACH BOSS HAVING A PLURALITY OF OUTWARDLY OPENING ELONGATED POCKETS SPACED APART ANNULARLY EQUAL DISTANCES, SAID BODY HAVING FLATTENED SIDES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN THE POCKETS; (C) AN ELONGATED CUTTER IN EACH POCKET ADAPTED TO MOVE INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO ITS POCKET; (D) A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED TEETH ON THE OUTER SIDE OF THE CUTTERS; (E) YIELDING MEANS URGING SAID CUTTERS OUTWARDLY IN THE RESPECTIVE POCKETS; (F) AND MEANS LIMITING OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID CUTTERS, THE CUTTERS OF ONE BOSS HAVING A DIFFERENT ORIENTATION RELATIVE TO THE CUTTERS OF ANOTHER BOSS SO THAT WHEN THE TOOL IS RECIPROCATED IN A PIPE THE CUTTERS OF ONE BOSS WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT PATH FROM THE CUTTERS OF SAID OTHER BOSS. 